Heelplate for skates or the like



May 15, 1923. H,455,276

A. L. STAPLES HEELPLATE FOR SKATES OR THE LIKE Filed Jan- 20, 1922INVENTOR 6%36. M

' BY 1M ATTORNEYS Patented May 15, 1923.

UNETED STATES CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO WINCHESTER REPEATING- ARMSCOMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

HEELPLATE FOB. SKATES OR THE LIKE.

Application filed January 20, 1922. Serial No. 530,674.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR L. STAPLES, a citizen of the United States,residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State ofConnecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Heelplates forSkates or the like, of which the following is a specification.

his invention relates to heel plates for skates or the like and moreparticularly to the heel band or upstanding lip portion at the rear ofthe heel plate which is adapted to engage the rounded rear end of a shoeheel and serves to prevent relative lateral displacement of the heel andtheheel plate. In the manufacture of heel plates for skates it has beencustomary to make the heel band or upstanding lip portion of the heelplate semi-circular in plan throughout its length. A heel band soshaped, however, will not perform its above stated function in asatisfactory manner except when applied to heels having rear ends soshaped asto conform exactly to the semi-circular curvature of the heelband. Obviously a smaller heel will fit loosely within the heel band sothat more Or less side play will be permitted between the heel and theband. On the other hand, a larger heel cannot be forced into the curveof the heel band but will bear only against the extreme ends thereofwith resulting injury to the heel.

The object of the present invention is to provide a heel plate forskates or like having a heel band or upstanding lip portion of improvedconstruction whereby it is adapted to fit shoe heels of a wide range ofsizes and styles and to function in such a manner as effectively toprevent relative sidewise displacement of the heel and heel plateirrespective of the size of the heel.

To this end the invention contemplates the construction of the heel bandas here inafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of a heel platehaving a heel band embodying the invention in what may be considered itspreferred form;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the heel band illustrating itsapplication to heels of widely different sizes.

Referring to the drawings, the heel plate of a roller skate is indicatedat 4 and the heel band or upstanding lip portion of the heel plate at 5.Except for the hereinafter described features of construction relatingparticularly to the heel band 5, the heel plate 4 may be made in anysuitable form and it may be supported in the usual manner as byconnection with the rear roller truck 6 as indicated by dotted lines inFig. 2.

The heel band 5 rises from the curved rear edge of the heel plate andflares outwardly an amount equal to the average pitch of a shoe heelthis permitting engagement between the heel and the heel band from thetop to thebottom of the latter. As shown, the heel band and the heelplate may be made from separate pieces of metal and rigidly securedtogether by means such as rivets 7 extending through the heel plate andthrough ears 8 whichproject from the lower edge of the heel band andunderlie the heel plate. The invention is not limited however to suchconstruction, but comprehends also the making of the heel band as anintegral part of the heel plate.

To enable the heel band 5 to fit heels vary ing considerably in size andstyle, the heel band is shaped, in accordance with the presentinvention, as follows: The central portion of the band, or the portionincluded between the points 10 and 11 in Fig. 1, has a true circularcurvature extending through an arc of substantially ninety degrees. Thetwo end portions 12 and 13 which constitute the remainder of the heelband are sub stantially straight and extend tangentially with respect tothe curved central portion of the band. The radius of curvature of thecentral portion of the heel band is made the same as the radius ofcurvature of the rounded rear end of a heel of the smallest size inconnection with which the heel plate is designed for use. Such a heel isindicated at 14 in Fig. 3 and the relation between said heel and theheel band is clearly illustrated therein, the curved central portion ofthe band conforming exactly to the rounded rear end of the heel.Consequently when the heel plate has been secured to the shoe, the plateand the heel will be securely held against relative lateraldisplacement. A larger heel such, for example, as the heel shown at 15in Fig 3, will enter between the tangentially disposed l lfi f @1 9 heelband, engaging each of said ends at a single point so that the heel willhave a twooint bearing against the heel band. Thus t 1e heel will besecurely held without being engaged by the sharp end edges of the heelplate and Without possibility of side play. It will be ap parent that byreason of the improved shape of the heel band, as above described, theheel will be maintained by the heel band in such relation to the heel.plate that relative sidewise displacement of said plate and heel ispositivelyprevented, Whatever the size of the heel may be, up to .themaximum size which the heel band designed to accommbdate' In theillustrated embodiment of the invention the lower edge of the heelbandadjoinsthe rear edge of the heel plate which is shaped to coincideexactly with the shape of the heel band. Obviously, however, if the heelband is made as shown, from a separate piece of material, the exactcontour or the rear edge of the heel plate itself isnot material so longas the band shaped as above described and suitably secured to the heelplate. l

Thenattire and scope of the present invention having been indicated andthe pret'erred' embodiment thereof having been specifically described,what is claimed is 1 heel plate for skates or the like havinganupstanding heel band at the rear of the plate constructed with acentrally disposed eoncave portion adapted to receive the roundedcontour of a shoe heel of minimum size and strai'ght side facesdiverging forwardly therefrom to provide a two point bearing for therounded rearends of heels o l r e i es 2. A heel plate for skates or thelike provided with a heel band having central por tion shaped to conformto the rounded rear end of a heel of minimum size throughout asuflicient distance around the heel to prevent relative" sidewisedisplacement of the heel and heel-plate, and straight end portionsextending tangenially from said central portion and flaring outwardlytherefrom for engaging the rounded rear ends of heels 0]" various largersizes.

8. A heel platet'or skates or the like provided With a heel bandcomprising an arouate central portlon entendlng through substantiallyninety degrees said portion being adapted to conform throughout itslength with the rounded rear end of a heel of minimum size and straightend portions tangentially disposed with respect to said aren'- ateportion so as to present flat surfaces for engagement with the rear endsof heels of larger sizes.

and adjacent tangential edges for engage ment with the rear endof theheel, said lip portion flaring upwardly throughout its length toaccommodate the pitch of the heel. In testimony whereof I have affixedmy signature. I

ARTHUR L. STAPLES.

